Police arrest theft suspects who targeted day care parents

By Pierrette J. ShieldsLongmont Times-Call

Posted:
01/22/2014 04:32:24 PM MST

Updated:
01/23/2014 12:54:21 PM MST

Biana Montiel, also known as Destiny Lucero

Brighton Police on Wednesday arrested two theft suspects who investigators say had been targeting mothers who briefly leave valuables unattended in their vehicles when they drop off their children at day care.

Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur said six cases were in Longmont, but similar reports were made in Lafayette, Broomfield, Brighton, Thornton, Evans, Loveland and Greeley.

Investigators believe Christopher Ureste, also known as Danny Montiel, of Greeley and Bianca Montiel, also known as Destiny Lucero, who is also believed to be in the Greeley or Evans area, sat outside day cares and waited for parents to leave their vehicles with their children.

Christopher Ureste, also known as Danny Montiel

"When the parents escort their child into the building, the (suspects) enter the unlocked car and steal the mother's purse," Satur wrote in a release about the thefts. He said that the suspects quickly use the credit cards at local stores and have accumulated thousands of dollars in fraudulent purchases. He noted that in one case the suspects entered a vehicle with a child still inside.

According to Satur, someone who had seen a news report about the robberies saw Ureste and Montiel at the Best Western Hotel at Colo. Highway 7 and Colo. Highway 85 in Brighton and called police. They were arrested without incident.

Ureste was wanted on 10 warrants that total $161,000 in bonds and Montiel was wanted on five warrants that total $11,800 and two no-bond warrants.